Coloring Books: A Creative Outlet for the Artistically-Challenged

Photo posted by @alisakburke on Instagram

Are you feeling like life has been a bit overwhelming lately? Have the current political climate, recent environmental issues or Zoom University gotten you down? Sometimes you need to turn off the TV, snuggle up in a sweatshirt and blanket and tune out the world. Studies show that artistic and creative outlets can help you deal with stress by lowering the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone produced in the adrenal gland. Subjects worked with various medium creating art for 45 minutes, and around 75% of them had lowered cortisol levels after they were done.

For those who want to be creative but have limited experience or don’t know where to start, coloring books are a great way to play with color and design in a casual medium. VALLEY has found 10 affordable coloring books and three types of markers, colored pencils, and pens to give you inspiration and help you relax and get your color on.

Coloring Books
Andy Warhol Coloring Book
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Those who appreciate art but aren’t as skilled with creating it can enjoy bringing Andy Warhol’s famous works back to life again in this book.

Vogue
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Vintage Fashion
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If you enjoy the world of fashion, these two books are a great way to exercise your passion without looking at a screen. “Vogue Colors A to Z: A Fashion Coloring Book” features archived Vogue magazine covers from 1912 to 1932, reimagined by artists and ready to be colored in. “Adult Coloring Book Vintage Series: The Masters of Fashion Illustration” is full of beautiful designs against intricate backgrounds for more experienced colorers.

Cities
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Anyone with wanderlust will love this book featuring cityscapes, real and imagined, from around the world.

Junk Food
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We all love junk food – it’s a guilty pleasure. Show your love by coloring in this unique book which features burgers and nuggets on a black background to make your colors pop.

Coffee Animals
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Animals and coffee? Say no more. Caffeine addicts and animal lovers will feel fully relaxed when coloring in this book.

Cozy Cooking
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If you enjoy cooking easy and fun recipes, this book is for you. Many of the pages feature dogs too!

Boss Babes
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This empowering coloring book features powerful women like Beyoncé, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Serena Williams and others, all for the creative feminist.

Relaxing Patterns
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This “Namaste” coloring book features mandalas and more to help you find your zen. 

Succulents
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Everyone loves a cute, little succulent! Plant lovers will enjoy these simple and fun designs printed on thick, perforated paper, designed for tearing out and hanging up on a wall or giving to a friend. 

Coloring Mediums
Super Tips
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Crayola’s classic Super Tips come in this affordable 50-pack featuring shades from all across the rainbow. They’re easy to use and cause less wrist strain because you don’t need to push down as hard.

ARTEZA Colored Pencils
Photo from Amazon

For the more experienced coloring book fan, colored pencils are a great way to experiment with detailing, shading, blending and more. Try this professional pack with 48 shades that come in a convenient metal storage case.

TANMIT Fine Tip Markers

With these fine tip marker-pens, you get the best of both worlds – the intensity and ease of markers, but the precision of pencils and pens. This pack comes with 36 duel-ended pens to help you get creative.

Let us know what your favorite way to de-stress is @VALLEYMag!

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